Verum

I really enjoyed Spell Forest's "Lucifer Rex" a lot; nothing original but very well-executed sinister symphonic black metal with a GREAT sound! "Verum", which so far is only available as a download from the band (I normally revile downloading albums, but when it is the only way it is available I guess I hafta), on the other hand, is a bit less exciting. It sounds like it was done in separate parts through a computer, rather than sounding like a real-and-truly band. It also sounds like the person(s) responsible for writing "Lucifer Rex" is no longer a member.

"Verum" still sounds really good, but it is very smooooth and lacking abrasive edges like their prior material had in abundance. It doesn't sound all "pro-tool" buzzingly mechanized...but I'm afraid it's pretty close!

The material is rather standard black metal of the non-necro type, all clipping along at a pretty fast-to-mid pace; there is no utter psychotic speed on here. Two and a half things stand out to the listener: the half-thing is the vocals. There are some pretty cool vocal prestidigitations on here, very eerie howls and screams from time to time, in tastefully thought-out parts of songs (one thing that can really be said for Spell Forest is that they are tasteful...of course, in a black metal sense!) I think the vocals may actually be a slight improvement over their older material; the bulk of the vocals is a rasping mid-range sneering fraught with ire, and are full of enough variety to keep interesting. The second stand out thing is the lead guitar work. Once in awhile, some leadwork comes beaming in from the netherworld, neither poorly played nor techinically brilliant. But extremely memorable, and bizarre. I liken it to the ancient solos in Death's material, before Chuck became a guitar whiz-kid and forgot about writing great metal songs...though totally different in Spell Forest, these guitar parts (many can't even be called 'solos') sound very eerie and unsettling in almost every instance, something I can really appreciate. I don't have the scholarly music terminology to describe it, other than they don't sound like they FIT in the songs, yet improve the songs with the very fact of their macabreness and outre' ill fit. The third thing of note about "Verum" is the very unusual use of keyboards. The intro is all instrumental, and the keyboards are used to make a peculiar sound, like a larger orchestra french horn and trombone section (along with other instruments). One can hear these lower-register sounds several other times throughout the album, at times reminiscent of "Viking horns" in the distance. And that's what most of the album's keyboards are, 'in the distance'. They are strangely muffled, as if emanating from within a mausoleum that is several plots away. Also, in keeping with the jarringly weird guitar parts, the keyboards at certain times are played at tones that very obviously clash with the song/key...upon first hearing, one may even think this was a mistake, but it becomes obvious that it was done purposely to satisfying, albeit bizarre, effect. But be aware that these are simply FLAVOURS inside the framework of the otherwise straight-forward black metal, not annoyingly over-worked (like Arcturus or something). As I said before, the key word for Spell Forest is tasteful.

If you are already a fan of Spell Forest, this isn't very disappointing (and the slight improvements in the vocal/guitar/and keyboard department may actually make this a more enjoyable listen for some...I just don't think the songs themselves are as strong). If you've not heard Spell Forest and decide to download this, please be aware that this is a bit different band than from their earlier days. If you'd like it more raw and action-packed, seek out "Lucifer Rex" and you won't be gypped. I wish I could find these guys' other 2 albums, but I can't! To employ the recently much-maligned Dimmu Borgir...AGAIN!...as an example, Spell Forest are what could've come after "For All Tid" if the progressions would've kept to a darker, more EVIL, bent.